SubscribeJust How Many Social Networking Sites Does One Industry Need?
September 29, 2007
Fresh on the heals of the Active Rain vs. Move.com dispute comes news of at least 2 — that’s right, count ‘em — TWO!! — more real estate-focussed social networking sites.
The boys of Sellsius, refreshed after a cross country RV trip and then a fishing vacation, just put out a press release about an upcoming site called BeatYouThere. Well, I beat it over there, and this is what I saw:
Fortunately, I then came across a site named Listolia being not-so-subtly promoted in the comments of Michael Arrington’s not-so-inerring post about Realtors suing Realtors. I scurried over and this is what I found:
Let’s see…We’ve got Zillow. We’ve got Trulia Voices. We’ve got Active Rain. Move.com is/was trying to get into the fray.
Hey, I’ve got an idea: Let’s start a real estate social networking site where we can talk about real estate social networking sites! We’ll call it … hmm … RealEstateSocialNetworking.com. Nah. Taken. (I’m serious!) How about SocialNetworkingAboutSocialNetworking.com ? Any takers?
Seriously, folks, this train has left the station. I don’t know how many social networking sites the real estate industry actually needs. The established ones (listed above) have some serious critical mass already, and it’s not clear that yet another one would have a chance of catching up, unless it offered a really compelling hook that nobody else did.
Comments
26 Responses to “Just How Many Social Networking Sites Does One Industry Need?”
Got something to say?
Make it 3.
Realtorclix.com
http://tinyurl.com/ytgtrr
Do I hear 4?
#3 Realtorclix.xom
http://tinyurl.com/ytgtrr
do I hear 4?
We need social networking sites for our industry? I look at the consumer side.
Wait, Teresa? There are consumers? And they’re not dazzled by the wit on AR?
These things are multiplying almost as fast as the splogs.
I’ve had it with social networking. I’m going back to being anti-social.
The difference with BeatYouThere.com and some of the other “social networking” sites is that we are going to attract everyday users to create profiles, not just real estate professionals. We plan to create a buzz around everyone involved in real estate …..from the power broker in manhattan to the housewife in greenwich who wants to get to know a bird dog to help her find her next investment. We also differentiate ourselves from other social networking sites in that we also offer the worlds widest search engine. So you don’t have to go to another site to send properties to your “friends” or chat with others about a great investment property you just found.
Think we’ve got quite enough social RE sites, thanks. Move did not distinguish itself with AR. If someone does come up with a more consumer oriented site, as Mark suggests above, then that’s different.
I am so tired of social networking targeted at Realtors. Duh!
Actually I was thinking we should start another online MLS system.
not.
kk
well said. Although, i think i got the “hook” in the works. Hope to show you all something way different.
I think I have had enough social networking, thank you very much! It’s just too many different platforms to keep track of. Even college kids have their saturation point, just look at how quickly Friendster became yesterday’s news.
Let’s now get back to the real business side– face-to-face networking!!! No matter how much social networking there are on the web, eventually we still like that good old face-to-face interaction.
Cheers,
Cindy
And don’t forget this new one: http://www.myagentbook.com
On the one hand, the real estate market is cooling in most areas …. on the other hand all these start-ups are still trying to jump on the bandwagon.
The social networking part of http://www.BeatYouThere.com is about 2% of what our site is all about and that is listings, listings and more listings. We will be the go to site for real estate search. (residential, commercial, land, rentals, foreclosures, fsbo, you name it.) We just wanted to also provide a networking platform for users, but that IS NOT the integral part of our site, listings is what we are focused on.
Isn’t that what everyone initially said about Facebook? Why create another social network if we have myspace?
There will always be new sites with new hooks. I say “bring it on.com”
Frank Broker
Blog.FranklyRealty.com
Thanks for linking to my new site:
socialnetworkingaboutsocialnetworking.com
RealTyger said something about how it is going to be a social network. And then there is MyAgentBook.com, WannaNetwork.com.
And with the popularization of turnkey-style platforms (ning, onesite) rest assured that somebody will create the social network that is all about real estate social networking.
Add one more, Propertyqube.com, a Consumer focused real estate social networking site focused on letting professionals interact with consumers.
50/50 pro to consumer user base.
Real people have real questions, and the fastest way to build your brand is to help someone first, then you win a customer.
Blogs, Q&A, Photo Albums, Groups, Glossary, featured listings, recommendations, networking… It’s the best on the market for pure social networking, and not just self pimping.
Carson, check out Propertyqube.com…
Here’s another one focused on investment property, http://www.rehabahouse.com.
Hot Home Network is aimed at the investor, FSBO and real estate professionals. It is an open environment for anyone to list properties, promote themselves using a myspace style profile, etc. There are forums, a video board, etc. Compelling.
The reality is that social networking works and it is almost a required feature of real estate and other sites, just as property search is.
So, the real question is, “How many real estate listings sites does this industry need?”
Well a social network is only good for Realtors if they are getting something out of it. It’s like joining a social network of car sales reps – how many deals are gonna come out of that???? You need to be out there in the consumer world in order to get business!!!
RE ADVOCATE is setting up a great platform with results & benefits email if interested esanchez@thereadvocate.com
[...] its implementation of social networking in the digital era of real estate marketing? How many resources do we really need to connect with other real estate professionals? The real value of social [...]
This one is cool http://www.MyPocketDeals.com
It connects buyers, realtors and motivated sellers
http://www.propertiesnyou.com (The Property Mall)
This is a Portal for Real Estate – Agents, Brokers, Dealers &
Owners.
You can add your properties on this portal after Completion of
Registration and also you can add if any requirement for property.
Also We deals in all types of properties- “Residential”- Apartment
| Flat | Bungalow | Plot | House, “Commercial” – Shop | Showroom |
Office, “Indutrial”-Factory in Delhi East | Delhi West | Delhi
North | Delhi South | Dwarka | Noida | Gurgaon.
I’m a member of BiggerPockets – http://www.biggerpockets.com and I think it is hands down, the best run real estate social network out there. The focus is on investors, agents, and other pros. Otther than Zillow, Trulia and Activerain, this is probably the most active site out there and for good reason.
Since 2004 the founders of Connected Investors have been working to bring you a social site for real estate investors. (not agents) Connected Investors is unique in the fact it is Invite only, and gives all the members their own professional real estate website.